dying to meet you. He just got his banking license approved and is opening a small private bank in Geneva…” Alex remains mute, pondering his request. “C’mon!” Mike gives him another quick pat on the arm as he notices Alex hesitating. “Just have dinner with us.”
After letting out a breath, Alex smiles politely at him. “Sure. Why not? Which day of the week do you have in mind?”
And at that moment, I realize one thing: goddaughters don’t go to dinners with their godfathers.
After all, why on earth would a girl like me go? A wife, yes. A girlfriend, maybe. But a goddaughter? What would be the point?
“Um, is Thursday evening good for you?” Mike asks, beaming with joy.
Alex doesn’t reply immediately; instead, his attention shifts to me. “What do you think?” Me? “Is Thursday evening okay for you? If you want to fundraise, Laurent is a great contact to have.” My heart can barely contain so much happiness. Oh, Alex. I press my lips tightly together to avoid kissing him in front of them.
“Sounds great, yeah,” I reply in a nonchalant tone.
“Perfect. See you guys on Thursday, then,” Mike replies, before leaving us.
I’m still trying to contain the urge to kiss him, but damn, I’m beyond excited. He notices and kisses my forehead, trying to contain the same urge. “Let’s go home,” he whispers in my ear. “I can’t contain myself for much longer.”
We don’t even wait until we get home. While his chauffeur is driving, Alex’s lips don’t leave mine. Not even once. Nor in the elevator going up to his condo. And before he opens the door, he snatches me up against it, kissing me again.
“Did you miss my lips that much?” I ask, teasing him.
“I’ll never get enough of them,” he whispers, nibbling my bottom lip. “Never.”
My eyes sparkle at the idea that we are finally going to live together, just like a normal couple.
Then he reaches for his key, and it feels like an eternity before we can get inside and make love. Maybe this time we could do it on the sofa, right past the entrance hall. As we pass the entryway, Alex closes the door behind us, and I shove him against the wall, devouring his mouth, already pushing his Henley shirt up.
“Sorry to disturb you.” A male voice startles us.
“Dad!” I blink twice, but my jaw is already on the floor. It can’t be possible! Then my gaze drifts slightly to my right. “Mom?” What? I must be dreaming! “What are you both doing here?” I cover my mouth with my palm, mortified at the sight. Oh jeez, my heart is stuck in my throat, and I can barely breathe.
“What the fuck, Roy?” Alex barks, already pulling me behind him. “You’re crazy, you know that?”
I close my eyes, forcing myself to wake up from this nightmare, but as I reopen them, all I see is Mom and Dad standing in front of us, censoring us with their glares. Oh God, it can’t be true! And yet my parents are literally here in Alex’s condo with… two armed security guards!
“What a pathetic slut you are, Petra,” Mom rebukes me in disgust, her head shaking.
“Fuck off, Tess!” Alex shouts. “Get the fuck out of here!”
“I don’t think so,” Mom replies just as stoically, her arms crossed over her chest.
Dad keeps his posture and glare as defiant as a murderer before killing his victim as the two armed men surround him. He paces slowly in our direction, his hands behind his back, and stands before Alex, coming quite close to his face. “What a terrible mistake it was thinking you could outsmart me.” His voice petrifies me, and I don’t recognize him! Where is my dad? The one who was kind and supportive of my relationship with Alex? The one who even let us go to Aspen? Where is he now? “Terrible mistake,” he repeats, shaking his head.
“Roy, stop it,” Alex snarls, barely containing his rage as they glare at each other. “This is twenty years of friendship you are throwing away. Don’t be on the wrong side.”
“Indeed, twenty good years.” Dad lets out a breath, looking downward and then up at Alex. “I’m gonna miss them.” He then turns his freezing stare at me. “Petra, these two men will be your bodyguards from now on.”
“Fuck off, Dad!” I shout. “Just fuck off!”
Dad is about to grab my arm, but Alex steps forward, shoving him back. “Don’t touch her!”
The two men rush over to Dad’s rescue